Eye Infection, Bacterial

What is a bacterial eye infection?

When bacteria causes an eye infection, the eye drains a yellow discharge (pus). This condition is also called bacterial conjunctivitis, runny eyes, or mattery eyes.

Your child may have:

Yellow discharge in the eye

Eyelids stuck together with pus, especially after sleeping

Some redness in the white part of the eyes

Puffy eyelids

Note: A small amount of cream-colored mucus in the inner corner of the eyes after sleeping can be normal.

What is the cause?

Eye infections with pus are caused by bacteria and can be a complication of a cold. Pink eyes without a yellow discharge, however, are more common and are due to a virus.

How long does it last?

With antibiotic eye drops, the yellow discharge should clear up in 72 hours. The red eyes (which are due to the cold) may continue for several more days.

How can I take care of my child?

Cleaning the eye

Before putting in any medicines, remove all the pus from the eye with warm water and wet cotton balls. Unless this is done, the medicine will not have a chance to work.

Antibiotic eye drops or ointments

This infection must be treated with an antibiotic eye medicine prescribed by your child's healthcare provider.

Putting eye drops or ointment in the eyes of young children can be a real battle. Ideally it's done with two adults. One person can hold the child still while the other person opens the eyelids with one hand and puts in the medicine with the other. One person can do it alone if she sits on the floor holding the child's head (face up) between the knees to free both hands to put in the medication.

Eye drops: If your healthcare provider has prescribed antibiotic eye drops, put 1 drop in each eye every 4 hours while your child is awake. Do this by gently pulling down on the lower lid and placing the drops there. As soon as the eye drops have been put in the eyes, have your child close them for 2 minutes so the eye drops will stay inside. If it is difficult to separate your child's eyelids, put the eye drops over the inner corner of the eye while he is lying down. When your child opens his eye and blinks, the eye drops will flow in. Continue the eye drops until your child has awakened 2 mornings in a row without any pus in the eyes.

Ointment: If your healthcare provider has prescribed antibiotic eye ointment, the ointment needs to be used just 4 times a day because it can remain in the eyes longer than eye drops. Separate the eyelids and put in a ribbon of ointment along the lower eyelid from one corner of the eye to the other. If it is very difficult to separate your child's eyelids, put the ointment on the edges of the eyelids. As the ointment melts from body heat, it will flow onto the eyeball. Continue until 2 mornings have passed without any pus in the eye.

Contact lenses

Children with contact lenses need to switch to glasses temporarily. This will prevent damage to the cornea.

Contagiousness

The pus from the eyes can cause eye infections in other people if they get some of it on their eyes. Therefore, it is very important for the sick child to have his own washcloth and towel. He should be encouraged not to touch or rub his eyes because it can make his infection last longer. Touching his eyes also puts a lot of germs on his fingers. Your child's hands should be washed often to prevent spreading the infection.

After using eye drops for 24 hours, and if the pus is minimal, children can return to day care or school.

When should I call my child's healthcare provider?

Call IMMEDIATELY if:

The outer eyelids become very red or swollen.

The eye becomes painful.

The vision becomes blurred.

Your child starts acting very sick.

Call within 24 hours if:

The infection isn't cleared up after 3 days of treatment.

Your child develops an earache.

You have other concerns or questions.

Written by Barton D. Schmitt, MD, author of “My Child Is Sick,” American Academy of Pediatrics Books.

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.